We wish to correct a minor error in the recent article, “Update on vaccine-preventable diseases: Are adults in your community adequately protected?” by William Schaffner, MD, which appeared in a supplement to the April issue of The Journal of Family Practice.1 The article inaccurately states that “the live attenuated influenza vaccine [FluMist] and herpes zoster vaccine must be frozen” and cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) booklet, Vaccine Management: Recommendations for Storage and Handling of Selected Biologicals, published in January 2007.2
However, both the FluMist (influenza virus vaccine live, intranasal) prescribing information published September 2007 and the revised CDC vaccine management booklet that was published in November 2007 recommend that FluMist be stored in a refrigerator at 35° to 46°F (2°–8°C) upon receipt and until use before the expiration date on the sprayer label.3,4 This latest information is critical.
FluMist should not be stored frozen or exposed to freezing temperatures, and if inadvertently frozen, it should be moved immediately to the refrigerator.4 The refrigerated formulation was licensed in September 2007 and replaced the previously marketed frozen formulation (which was discontinued at that time). Subsequently, the CDC updated their vaccine management booklet.
Gregory M. Susla, PharmD, FCCM
Associate Director, Medical Information
MedImmune, LLC
Gaithersburg, MD
SuslaG@medimmune.com
Editor’s note
This article was prepared prior to the publication of the new vaccine management brochure from the CDC.